Technology Committee members here at Towson University’s Cook Library are always on the hunt for new technology applications to bring into the library or technology-related issues our library should be addressing. As we scour the internet for important, interesting, or just plain cool examples of technology applications, issues, or news, we post links and summaries with our take here to the blog.

L.A. schools purchased more than 100,000 iPads that were to be paired with English and math curriculum from Pearson. Schools complained that the software caused problems frequently and now only 2 of the 69 schools use the technology regularly. This is a sort of cautionary tale that warns about using technology as a Band-Aid. Without proper curriculum, training, and support these admirable ventures have no guarantees for success. – Matt

For Apple Fans: A New Mini Web Series about Apple Adding & Removing Useful Software & Features

Are you a fan of Apple products or know somebody who is? The Mac New Network (MacNN) has recently posted an excellent set of articles about how Apple drops useful programs and features and the problems that it can cause Mac fans. You can read the whole series by viewing the links below. – Eric

The University of Michigan Health System is using Google Glass during anatomy labs to provide students with hands-free access to reference materials. While the ability to study hands-free may not be crucial in a library setting it’s possible to imagine students sitting at clutter free workstations if the sources they are researching are accessed via Google Glass. – Matt

As reported in Smithsonian, researchers are using a technique called x-ray phase-contrast tomography, or XPCT, to read scrolls from the library at Herculaneum that burned in the 79 A.D. Mount Vesuvius eruption. Click over to the original story to learn more about the technique and how researchers hope to use this technology to analyze materials previously thought be in accessible! – Kim

What do you think about some of the issues or technologies presented? Have you found anything interesting online this week? Share in the comments!

Technology Committee members here at Towson University’s Cook Library are always on the hunt for new technology applications to bring into the library or technology-related issues our library should be addressing. As we scour the internet for important, interesting, or just plain cool examples of technology applications, issues, or news, we post links and summaries with our take here to the blog.

A group of researchers at the Federal Institute of Technology ETH Zurich has developed a time-tested preservation method by encapsulating DNA in silica and applying an algorithm when reading it that allows data to be decoded after time has taken its toll. Currently, there are inherent risks with storing data on hard drives and other methods, and this process could guarantee the preservation of historical documents for thousands or even millions of years.

To test its method, the team encoded the Swiss Federal Charter, written in 1291, as well as The Methods of Mechanical Theorems by the Greek philosopher Archimedes into DNA. And although the DNA was slightly damaged at the end of the process, the information could be decoded accurately with the help of a simple algorithm. Robert Grass, the study’s lead researcher envisions that this method could be mostly utilized by institutions such as libraries and governmental agencies to preserve data and documents that need to be preserved at all costs. – Armando

Osmo is a suite of interactive games which utilize the camera on an iPad. A mirror, stand, and various interactive playing pieces provide a simple set of 4 games. While edutainment faces many critiques, this could be a great way to engage patrons in a library. Present the game to draw patrons up to a table to interact with other resources, start a conversation about technology, or learn about exciting events! Check out this video demo to learn more! – Laksamee

Beacon Technology in Education

“Beacon technology” – or the ability to use Bluetooth technology transmit information to nearby smart devices – has recently received attention in retail and other business arenas. A recent article from Huffington Post proposes fifteen possible uses of beacons in education, many of which could be applied or extended to the academic library environment. If you could use beacon technology in your library, what type of information or messages would you send to your visitors? – Kim

Most of us realize that we could be signing away our souls when we click agreement forms for things like Facebook and any app on our smart devices. But what should also be considered is how others are gathering our information and using that data to potentially make profit. A recent video on the web comic PhD explored the idea of privacy and ownership in the digital age and how one project, Hub of All Things, is trying to allow people to take ownership over their own data, and make it work for them, rather than just giving away to businesses benefiting from our online actions. – Laksamee

What do you think about some of the issues or technologies presented? Have you found anything interesting online this week? Share in the comments!

Technology Committee members here at Towson University’s Cook Library are always on the hunt for new technology applications to bring into the library or technology-related issues our library should be addressing. As we scour the internet for important, interesting, or just plain cool examples of technology applications, issues, or news, we post links and summaries with our take here to the blog.

Last Monday Apple unveiled its latest piece of technology, the Apple Watch. BBC reports smartwatch sales are estimated to grow eight times this year. Wearables could change the way students interact with our services, by leading them to a particular resource or their new favorite study spot. – Arthur

SXSWedu wrapped up last week in Austin, TX. This article from The Chronicle of Higher Education‘s Wired Campus blog discusses three issues that were prevalent across programs, namely student privacy, new forms of credentials, and helping instructors build learning gadgets. As academic librarians are already considering the ethics of tools like learning analytics, pursuing alternative credentialing (e.g., badging), and creating spaces where students and faculty alike can “make” things, it seems natural that we tap into the energy around these topics in higher education more generally. – Kim

Google Hangouts On Air allow users to broadcast their hangouts to a live audience for free. This post from Moving at the Speed of Creativity includes step-by-step directions for setting up an on air hangout. Academic librarians might take note of Hangouts On Air to broadcast events, facilitate live discussion, or perhaps even bring guest speakers to campus virtually. – Kim

Recently Microsoft released the Office 2016 preview for Mac, this means we may see an official release in the not so distant future! Five years since the last Office release for Mac, 2016 promises to bring a familiar look and feel for those who have learned to love Office on Windows. – Arthur

What do you think about some of the issues or technologies presented? Have you found anything interesting online this week? Share in the comments!

Technology Committee members here at Towson University’s Cook Library are always on the hunt for new technology applications to bring into the library or technology-related issues our library should be addressing. As we scour the internet for important, interesting, or just plain cool examples of technology applications, issues, or news, we post links and summaries with our take here to the blog.

Many libraries utilize Google Analytics in order to gather information on how their resources are being viewed and used online. However, this data is often limited to simple number of clicks per page or basic download statistics. This article highlights how one library was able to gather more in-depth information on usage of their institutional repository by developing custom tracking code with Google APIs. – Laksamee

From the New York Times – Microsoft recently debuted HoloLens, high definition hologram glasses, as their new entry into the wearable technology market. In the future, will libraries leverage this technology to offer users the ability to interact with holograms of rare books or other fragile objects? – Kim

This unique use of Legos allowed entomologists to handle delicate insect specimens easily and cheaply in order to help digitize their insect collection. Library archives might consider developing their own tools to handle rare books! – Laksamee

As Wired.com reports, Flipboard (previously featured on Library Tech Talk) is now on the web! Now you can create your own personalized digital magazine to stay current with your library technology stories, other news, and humorous GIFs. – Kim

What do you think about some of the issues or technologies presented? Have you found anything interesting online this week? Share in the comments!

Technology Committee members here at Towson University’s Cook Library are always on the hunt for new technology applications to bring into the library or technology-related issues our library should be addressing. As we scour the internet for important, interesting, or just plain cool examples of technology applications, issues, or news, we post links and summaries with our take here to the blog.

After ten years, Google Scholar remains a heavily used search engine across many academic fields, and librarians continue to help students, faculty, and staff make the most of its resources. In an interview with Scientific American, Google Scholar co-creator Anurag Acharya discusses the search engine’s inception, development, and future! – Kim

Resources for Working with iPads

Apple’s iPad is a great resource for Academic Library’s but where can you turn to when you are having problems with your iPad’s want or to try something different with them. Here are a few places you can look:

Read an article about emerging wearable technologies and you’re likely greeted with a picture of a person wearing Google Glass. However, as Reuters reports, some developers are beginning to doubt Glass will take off in the consumer space, with perhaps continued specialized applications in the workplace. Will academic and research libraries develop as a fruitful space for more specialized Glass development? – Kim

In case you missed it: Microsoft has released free iOS apps for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, allowing iPad and iPhone users to create, edit, and save Office documents without an Office 365 account. This may be welcome news for librarians who want to work with Office documents from an iOS device, but unfortunately apps for Android devices have not been released. – Kim

What do you think about some of the issues or technologies presented? Have you found anything interesting online this week? Share in the comments!

Technology Committee members here at Towson University’s Cook Library are always on the hunt for new technology applications to bring into the library or technology-related issues our library should be addressing. As we scour the internet for important, interesting, or just plain cool examples of technology applications, issues, or news, we post links and summaries with our take here to the blog.

The Library Tech Talk blog has previously presented Google Forms as a survey platform option for librarians. In addition to new themes and added flexibility in personalizing form themes, Google recently announced a variety of free add-ons, making it easier to use Google Forms in more advanced ways. For example, if librarians use Google Forms to collect user feedback for a predetermined length of time, the “formLimiter” app could be used to automatically close the survey after a specific date or amount of time. The add-ons have been created by developers using Google Apps Script – librarians with a bit of JavaScript knowledge might also explore creating their own add-ons! – Kim

Gamification has a hand in making mundane tasks more fun. A recent indie gogo campaign has create an attachment that allows playground equipment to become a controller for a series of virtual games. While this application is more relevant to getting children more physically active, I could also see this being developed as a way to make your time in the office a bit more active, or perhaps make a library scavenger hunt a bit more interesting. – Laksamee

Last week, EBSCO introduced Flipster, a platform for browsing digital versions of popular magazines. With Flipster, users can browse and read magazines on their desktops or on mobile devices through native apps for Android and iOS. Last year, Library Tech Talk shared thoughts about a similar product, Browzine, an app which brings journal articles to your tablet. EBSCO’s entry into the digital periodical market with Flipster, while focusing primarily on popular sources, illustrates a continued trend towards digital and, more specifically, mobile content delivery for magazines, journals, and newspapers. – Kim

As part of a recent small-scale renovation, our library at Towson University is seeking to add more media and “presentation practice” space for student use. Even if libraries can carve out dedicated media production space and provide equipment, there’s no guarantee that all students know enough about video production to use the equipment effectively. Penn State has started solving this problem with “One Button Studio,” an app that automatically activates predetermined equipment settings and allows for recording with the touch of a single button. – Shannon & Kim

What do you think about some of the issues or technologies presented? Have you found anything interesting online this week? Share in the comments!

Technology Committee members here at Towson University’s Cook Library are always on the hunt for new technology applications to bring into the library or technology-related issues our library should be addressing. As we scour the internet for important, interesting, or just plain cool examples of technology applications, issues, or news, we post links and summaries with our take here to the blog.

A quick round or two of Jeopardy can be a fun way to assess students’ knowledge at the beginning of a library instruction session or help them review what they’ve learned once an instruction session is over. While tools like Microsoft PowerPoint templates have helped librarians build Jeopardy games for a number of years, Free Technology for Teachers recently posted “Three Nice Online Tools for Building Jeopardy-style Review Games” that librarians might also explore. Just remember to phrase your answer in the form of a question! – Kim

As featured in Gizmodo, Google recently released a set of 750 icons via Github that are open source and free to use. Although intended for mobile designers and released as part of Google’s Material Design project, anyone can download the set of icons for use in other projects. Librarians looking for other free, open source or public domain icons should also check out the Noun Project. – Kim

Ellyssa Kroski at iLibrarian recently featured a run down (with examples) “The 4 Flavors of Makerspaces,” including FabLabs, Hackerspaces, TechShops, and Maerkspaces. As librarians continue to jump on the Makerspace train, it’s important to note that these spaces are not “one-size fits all” and fun to consider which iteration may fit our communities and our spaces the best. – Kim

What do you think about some of the issues or technologies presented? Have you found anything interesting online this week? Share in the comments!

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Guest Authors

Are you interested in contributing to Library Tech Talk? We are looking for guest authors to write about technologies and their practical applications in an academic library. Please contact me for more information: kimberlymiller at towson.edu